Your Green Life: "Fruits of Our Efficiency"

By
KBJR News 1

April 9, 2014Updated Apr 10, 2014 at 9:24 AM CDT

Duluth, MN Minnesota Power is crediting you, their customers for helping them exceed Minnesota’s Energy Saving Goal.Total energy saved was 2.5 percent in 2013, which exceeded the State goal of 1.5 percent. That equates to 77-million Kilowatt hours.

Tina Koecher, the Manager of Billing and Energy Efficiency MN Power explains, "That’s equivalent to powering over 8,000 homes for a year, taking 16,000 cars off the road for a year, or roughly 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide reduced."

"Roughly about 65% of our savings in the residential customer sector is from lighting." says Koecher.

Businesses were also doing their part. From the Great Lakes Aquarium getting energy efficient pumps, to Canal Park Brewery capturing and reusing heat to make beer.

Badger Colish, the brewer at Canal Park Brewing Company said, "It’s very expensive to boil water, it’s one of the most expensive energy cost things that we do. So we want to always conserve that water and reclaim heat when possible, reclaim water when possible."

The brewery also uses LED lights and has energy efficient air units.Northland residents have shown that even if we all do something little, we can greatly reduce the impacts we have on the environment, and save a buck.

"By customers using energy more efficiently their getting the most for their energy dollar, but also helping us to provide the level of energy needed to serve our customers." says Koecher.